Tape winding devices

ABSTRACT

A thin ribbon cassette (16) is set on a tape winding device and its vertical-direction position is fixed by a position restricting member (18) provided on a back of a cover for an apparatus body. When the ribbon cassette (16) is thin in correspondence to a narrow width of an ink ribbon (15), a quantity of lowering of a ribbon winding top (5) engaged with a reel (16-1) of the cassette (16) is small. The biasing force of a clutch spring (7) which is compressed depending on the quantity of lowering of the ribbon winding top (5) is small, the force of a winding drive gear (6) which presses a clutch plate (4-1) through a felt member (12) is small, the frictional force of the felt member (12) is small, and the torque of the rotational shaft (4) is small. This torque is just suitable for winding a long and narrow ink ribbon having a corresponding small tensile strength. When a thicker ink ribbon cassette (22) is set on the apparatus body, the quantity of lowering of the ribbon winding top (5) is large, and the biasing force of the clutch spring (7) is correspondingly large, so that the torque of the rotational shaft (4) is large in correspondence to a long wide and ink ribbon (21).

This application is a Division of application Ser. No. 09/051,838, filedApr. 22, 1998.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tape winding device which engageswith a reel in a cassette around which a tape-like long material such asa printing tape, ink ribbon, acoustic or video recording tape, cellulosetape or label tape with a pattern is wound by changing the winding forcedepending on the strength of the tape-like material.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, for example, an ink ribbon winding device of a heattransfer type printer is known. Set in the printer is a ribbon cassettewhich contains an unused ink ribbon as a tape-like material and a reelaround which as a portion of the ink ribbon is used, the used ink ribbonportion is wound. The ink ribbon winding device engages with the reelround which the used ink ribbon is wound to transfer power from a drivesource via clutch mechanism to the winding reel. The clutch mechanismtransfers drive torque by a frictional force generated by a press loadof a spring to the winding reel and runs idle when the windingresistance exceeds a predetermined limit. By this arrangement, theclutch mechanism absorbs an increase in the tensile strength of the inkribbon due to an increase in the diameter of the ink ribbon as the inkribbon is wound and maintains the winding force of separating fromprinting paper the ink ribbon which adheres to the printing paper by themelting and transfer of the ink.

When the used ink ribbon portion is wound in the heat transfer typeprinter, resistance to separation of the ink ribbon from the printingpaper varies depending on the density of the printing and the width ofthe ink ribbon. Thus, for example, a required slip torque of the clutchmechanism (a limit torque beyond which a slippage of the clutchmechanism occurs against the frictional force) must decrease as thewidth of the ink ribbon decreases and vice versa.

However, as described above, there is a probability that a drive torquewith which a wider ink ribbon is wound will become insufficient becausethe slip torque of the clutch mechanism is constant. If the slip torqueand hence the drive torque, the drive torque would be excessive for anarrower ink ribbon, so that the ink ribbon may be broken during itswinding.

In order to solve this problem, before shippage of tape winding deviceswhich include respective clutch mechanisms from a factory, atry-and-error selection method is employed which includes actuallygiving the winding test of the winding devices in wider and narrower inkribbons in winding and selecting only winding devices which includerespective clutch mechanisms having an appropriate slip torque. For theclutch mechanism which brought no good result of the testing, therespective components of the clutch mechanism involved in the generationof the frictional force are replaced with other appropriate ones and theresulting clutch mechanism is then actually tested again, which is verytroublesome.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tapewinding device which is capable of winding a tape-like long material inan always stabilized manner with a slip torque depending on the tensilestrength of the tape-like long material.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provided atape winding device provided on an apparatus body and engaged with along tape-like material winding reel of a tape cassette set in theapparatus body for transmitting a drive force from a drive source of theapparatus body to the reel, comprising:

a rotating body having a portion which fits to the reel for rotating soas to drive the reel in a winding direction;

a rotational shaft thrust-fitting to the rotating body and having anabutting portion which abuts slidably on a friction member;

a relay member pressed against the abutting portion and receiving thedrive force from the apparatus body; and

a biasing member disposed between the relay means and the rotating bodyfor separating the relay means and the rotating body from each other andfor biasing the relay member so that the relay member is pressed againstthe abutting portion of the rotational shaft through the frictionalmember.

Thus, the long tape-like material is wound in an always stabilizedmanner with a slip torque depending on the tensile strength of thetape-like material.

Since a winding torque depending on the tensile strength of the longtape-like material is obtained automatically, no work of selecting tapewinding devices is required which include clutch mechanisms giving anappropriate slip torque after the winding devices are assembled. Thus,the number of steps of making a tape winding device and hence its costand the corresponding working time decrease to thereby improve theworking efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention alsoprovides a tape winding device provided on an apparatus body and engagedwith a long tape-like material winding reel of a tape cassette set onthe apparatus body for transmitting a drive force from a drive source ofthe apparatus body to the reel, comprising:

a first rotating body engaged with the reel for driving the reel in awinding direction;

a second rotating body engaged with the reel for driving the reel in awinding direction;

a first rotational shaft having a first support which thrust-fits to thefirst rotating body and having a first abutting portion which abutsslidably on a first frictional member;

a second rotating shaft fitted over the first rotational shaft andhaving a second support which thrust-fits to the second rotating bodyand having a second abutting portion which abuts slides on secondfrictional member;

a relay member pressed against the first abutting portion through thefirst frictional member and pressed against the second abutting portionthrough the second frictional member for transmitting the drive forcefrom the drive source of the apparatus body to the first and secondrotational shafts; and

a biasing member disposed between the relay means and said secondrotating body for separating the relay means and the second rotatingbody from each other and for biasing the relay member against the firstand second abutting portions through first and second frictionalmembers.

Thus, the drive torque of the tape cassette reel is changed depending onthe width or tensile strength of the long tape-like material, so that anappropriate winding torque depending on the width or tensile strength ofthe tape-like material is applied to the tape-like material.

Bad winding of a wider long tape-like material due to an insufficienttorque which is apt to occur when such wider tape-like material is usedor breakage of a narrower tape-like material due to an excessive torquewhich is apt to occur when the narrower tape-like material is used isavoided to provide a stabilized winding of the tape-like materialirrespective of its width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a tape winding device as afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the tape winding device of FIG.1 with a ribbon cassette set on the winding device;

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the tape winding device of FIG.1 with another ribbon cassette set on the winding device;

FIG. 4 is a side crass-sectional view of a tape winding device as asecond embodiment of the present invention with a ribbon cassette set onthe winding device;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the tape winding device as thesecond embodiment with another ribbon cassette set on the windingdevice;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the tape winding device as amodification of the second embodiment with a ribbon cassette set on thewinding device;

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the tape winding device asanother modification of the second embodiment with a ribbon cassette seton the winding device;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a tape winding device as athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the tape winding device of FIG. 8 with a ribboncassette set on the winding device;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the tape winding device of FIG. 8 with anotherribbon cassette set on the winding device;

FIG. 11 is a side view of a tape winding device as a modification of thethird embodiment with a ribbon cassette set on the winding device;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a tape winding device as another modificationof the third embodiment with a ribbon cassette set on the windingdevice; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of a tape winding device as a furthermodification of the third embodiment of the present invention with aribbon cassette set on the winding device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the tape winding devices of the present invention will bedescribed as ink ribbon winding devices and hence the long tape-likematerials used in the tape winding devices as an ink ribbon although thepresent invention is not restricted to them.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a tape winding device as afirst embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the tapewinding device 1 is provided with a support shaft 3 fixed to a chassis 2of a body of an apparatus such as a printer, a hollow rotational shaft 4fitting over the support shaft 3, a ribbon winding top 5 (rotating body)fitting over the upper portion of the rotational shaft 4, a windingdrive gear 6 (relay member) fitting over a lower end of the rotationalshaft 4, and a helical clutch spring 7 (biasing member) disposed aroundthe rotational shaft 4 between the winding drive gear 6 and the ribbonwinding top 5.

The ribbon winding top 5 is provided with a hollow shank 5-1 fitted overthe upper portion of the rotational shaft 4, a plurality of reelengaging fins (usually, 3-6 fins) provided at equal intervals around thecuter periphery of the shank 5-1, and a flange 5-3 integral with a lowerend of the shank 5-1. A raised boss (not shown) provided on the innerperiphery of the hollow shank 5-1 is engaged slidably in an axial grooveprovided on the outer surface of the rotational shaft 4.

Thus, the rotational shaft 4 allows the ribbon winding top 5 to slideaxially and to rotate along with the ribbon winding top 5 (thrust-fit).In a free state in which the rotational shaft 4 is not engaged with aribbon cassette), the rotational shaft 4 supports the ribbon winding top5 on the upper end portion of the rotational shaft 4. A disk-like clutchplate 4-1 is provided integral with the lower end of the rotationalshaft 4. A C-like washer 8 is engaged in a groove on the top of thesupport shaft 4 to prevent the rotational shaft 4 from slipping off fromthe support shaft 3 so that the rotational shaft 4 is supportedrotatably by the support shaft 3.

The clutch spring 7 has a pushing force which pushes the ribbon windingtop 5 upward while pushing the winding drive gear 6 through a washer 9downward. That is, the clutch spring 7 biases the ribbon winding top 5and the winding drive gear 6 so that they are spaced from each other. Inthe ribbon winding top 5, the upper end of its shank 5-1 abuts on theC-like washer 11 engaged with the upper end of the rotational shaft 4 toprevent the ribbon winding top 5 from slipping off upward from therotational shaft 4, and the ribbon winding top 5 resists the pushingforce of the clutch spring 7. The winding drive gear 6 pushes the clutchplate 4-1 through a felt 12 with a force corresponding to the biasingforce of the clutch spring 7. Although not shown especially, the windingdrive gear 6 meshes with a drive gear (not shown) of the apparatus bodyto receive a rotational torque from the drive gear.

The height of the clutch spring 7 changes as the height (a lower end ofthe position) of the lower end of the ribbon winding top 5 (flange 5-3)changes. As shown in FIG. 1, when the ribbon winding top 5 is at theupper end of the rotational shaft 4, a quantity of shrinkage of theclutch spring 7 is minimum, and hence the force of the winding drivegear 6 to push the clutch plate 4-1 through the felt 12 is minimum. Asthe ribbon winding top 5 lowers, a quantity of shrinkage of the clutchspring 7 and its repulsive or biasing force increase. Thus, the force ofthe winding drive gear 6 to push the clutch plate 4-1 through the felt12 increases. Thus, the frictional force of the felt 12 increases andhence the winding torque applied to the rotational shaft 4 from thewinding drive gear 6 via the felt 12 and the clutch plate 4-1 increases.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the operation of the tape winding device 1.FIG. 2 shows the tape winding device 1 and a ribbon cassette 16 whichwinds therearound a narrower ink ribbon 15 fitted over the tape windingdevice 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the hollow shank 5-1 of the ribbon windingtop 5 of the tape winding device is fitted into a center hole in a reel16-1 of the ribbon cassette 16 and engaged at its engaging fins 5-2 withcorresponding engaging fins (not shown) provided on the inner surface ofthe hollow reel 16-1.

When the ribbon cassette 15 is set in the ribbon winding device body 1,the ribbon cassette reel 16-1 abuts at its lower end on the flange 5-3of the ribbon winding top 5 so that the clutch spring 7 disposed betweenthe ribbon winding top 5 and the winding drive gear 6 is compressed bythe weight of the ribbon cassette 16 to thereby lower the ribbon windingtop 5 and hence produce a repulsive or biasing force of the clutchspring 7. The biasing force of the clutch spring 7 is set at a forcecorresponding to the weight of the ribbon cassette 16.

In the case of FIG. 2, the thickness of the ribbon cassette 16, thewidth of the ink ribbon, and the weight of the ribbon cassette 16 aresmall, so that the lowering quantity of the ribbon winding top 5 issmall. Thus, the set biasing force of the clutch spring 7 is small.Therefore, the force of the winding drive gear 6 to push the clutchplate 4-1 through the felt 12 is small, the frictional force so the felt12 is small, and the drive torque of the rotational shaft 4 is small.The ink ribbon 15 contained in the thinner ribbon cassette 16 is low intensile strength in correspondence to its narrow width, and the drivetorque of the rotational shaft 4 set at the small value is suitable forwinding the ink ribbon having the small tensile strength.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ribbon cassette 22 which contains a wider inkribbon 21 fitted over the tape winding device 1. In this case, also inFIG. 3 as in FIG. 2, the ribbon winding top shank 5-1 of the tapewinding device 1 is fitted and engaged in the center hole in a reel 22-1of the ribbon cassette 22. When the ribbon cassette 22 is fitted overthe winding device 1, its reel 22-1 abuts at its lower end on the ribbonwinding top flange 5-3, and the clutch spring 7 disposed between theribbon winding top 5 and the winding drive gear 6 is compressed by theweight of the ribbon cassette 22. Thus, the ribbon winding top 5 lowersto produce a repulsive or biasing force of the clutch spring 7. That is,the biasing force of the clutch spring 7 is set at a force correspondingto the weight of the ribbon cassette.

In FIG. 3, the width of the ink ribbon in the ribbon cassette, thicknessand weight of the ribbon cassette 22 are larger than those of the ribboncassette 16 of FIG. 2. Thus, the lowering quantity of the ribbon windingtop 5 is larger. Thus, the biasing force of the clutching spring 7 andthe drive torque of the rotational shaft 4 are larger.

As just described above, the drive torque of the tape winding devicereel changes depending on the weight of the ribbon cassette 16 (or 22).If the weight of the ribbon cassette is smaller, the drive torque issmaller whereas if the weight of the ribbon cassette is larger, thedrive torque is larger. Thus, the reel is driven at all times at a drivetorque appropriate for the tensile string of the ink ribbon.

The weight of the ribbon cassette is not necessarily proportionaldirectly to the width of the ink ribbon in the cassette or the thicknessof the ribbon cassette. For example, if the thickness of the base filmof the ink ribbon (not shown) is increased and an ink is coated on thisbase film even when the width of the ink ribbon in the cassette and thethickness of the ribbon cassette are decreased, the weight of the ribboncassette which contains the ink ribbon increases to thereby increase thedrive torque and the tensile strength. On the contrary, if the thicknessof the base film of the ink ribbon (not shown) is minimized permissiblyand the thickness of an ink coated on the base film is minimizedpermissibly even when the width of the ink ribbon in the cassette andthe thickness of the ribbon cassette are increased, the weight of theribbon cassette which contains the ink ribbon is decreased to therebydecrease the drive torque and the tensile strength of the ink ribbon. Inaddition, by adjusting the length of the ribbon contained in the ribboncassette and hence the weight of the ribbon cassette, the magnitude ofthe drive torque and the tensile strength of the ink ribbon areadjusted. In addition, for example, by changing the weight of a massprovided in the ribbon cassette and hence the weight of the ribboncassette, the drive torque and the tensile strength of the ink ribbonmay be adjusted.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the tape winding deviceaccording to the present invention. The same reference numeral is usedto identify like components of the embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5 and FIGS.1-3 and further description thereof will be omitted.

While in the first embodiment the drive torque of the tape windingdevice reel is adjusted by the weight of the ribbon cassette, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, the present invention is not limited to thisparticular case. For example, by pushing the ribbon cassette 16 or 22downward with a cover 17 attached to the apparatus device body, as shownin FIG. 4 or 5, without relying upon the weight of the ribbon cassette,a quantity of the ribbon winding top 5 lowered in fitting relationshipto the ribbon cassette reel is adjusted to thereby set a quantity ofcompression of the clutch spring 7 disposed between the ribbon windingtop 5 and the winding drive gear 6 to thereby change the biasing forceof the clutch spring 7 to obtain a winding torque depending on thetensile strength of the ink ribbon.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the operation of the tape winding device 1 ofthe second embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a ribbon cassette 16, which winds anarrower ink ribbon 15, set on the tape winding device 1. As shown inFIG. 4, the shank 5-1 of the ribbon winding top 5 of the tape windingdevice 1 is inserted in a center hole in the ribbon cassette reel 16-1and engaged at the engaging fins 5-2 with corresponding engaging fins(not shown) provided on the inner surface of the hollow reel 16-1. Thevertical-direction position of the ribbon cassette 16 is fixed by aposition restricting member 18 provided integral with the back of thecover 17 for the apparatus body closed after the ribbon cassette 16 isset. At this time, the cover 17 is locked to the apparatus body in aclosed state by a lock member (not shown) of the apparatus body. Theribbon cassette reel 16-1 abuts at its lower end on the flange 5-3 ofthe ribbon winding top 5 to restrict a rise of the ribbon winding top 5.

Thus, the length of the clutch spring 7 dispose between the ribbonwinding top 5 and the winding drive gear 6 is set at a lengthcorresponding to the thickness of the ribbon cassette 16. That is, thebiasing force of the clutch spring 7 is set at a force corresponding tothe thickness of the ribbon cassette 16.

In the case of FIG. 4, the thickness of the ribbon cassette 16 issmaller in correspondence to the thinner width of the ink ribbon 15 tobe wound, so that the lowering quantity of the ribbon winding top 5 issmaller and the set biasing force of the clutch spring 7 is smaller. Inthis case, the force of the winding drive gear 6 to push the clutchplate 4-1 via the felt 12 is smaller, which reduces the frictional forceof the felt 12 and hence the drive torque of the rotational shaft 4.

The ink ribbon 15 wound by the thinner cassette 16 is narrower, so thatits tensile strength is smaller, the drive torque of the rotationalshaft 4 set at the smaller value is suitable for winding the ink ribbonhaving the smaller tensile strength.

FIG. 5 shows a ribbon cassette 22 which winds a wider ink ribbon 21being set on the tape winding device 1. Also in this case, as shown inFIG. 5, the shank 5-1 of the ribbon winding top 5 is fitted in a centerhole in the ribbon cassette reel 22-1 and engaged with the reel 2-1. Inthis case, the reel 22-1 has a larger length than the reel 16-1 of FIG.4 because the reel length changes depending on the width of a ink ribbonto be sought. Also in FIG. 5, the ribbon cassette 22 is pushed downwardby the position restricting member 18 provided on the back of the cover17 for the apparatus so that the vertical-direction position of theribbon cassette 22 is fixed relative to the apparatus body. The ribboncassette reel 22-1 abuts at its lower end on the flange 5-3 of theribbon winding top 5 to lower the ribbon winding top 5 to fix therebyits position.

Thus, the length of the clutch spring 7 between the ribbon winding top 5and the winding drive gear 6 is compressed in correspondence to thethicker ribbon cassette 22 to be set at a corresponding length. In thecase of FIG. 5, since the thickness of the ribbon cassette 22 is largerin correspondence to the larger width of the ink ribbon 21 to be wound,the lowering quantity of the ribbon winding top 5, hence the set biasingforce of the clutch spring 7 and the drive torque of the rotationalshaft 4 are larger.

As described above, the reel drive torque of the tape winding device 1changes depending on the width of the ink ribbon to be wound. That is,if the width of the ink ribbon is smaller, the drive torque is smaller.On the contrary, if the width of the ink ribbon is wider, the drivetorque is larger. Thus, the reel is always driven at a drive torqueappropriate for the tensile strength of the ink ribbon.

The tensile strength of the ink ribbon is not necessarily proportionalto its width. For example, if as many prints as possible are desiredwith a roll of ink ribbon, the base film of the ink ribbon and aquantity of ink to be coated on the base film are required to beminimized. By doing so, the volume of the ink ribbon is reduced. Thus,even a ribbon cassette of the same size can contain a longer ink ribbon.As the ink ribbon becomes longer, a quantity of print increases.However, a decrease in the thickness of the ink ribbon reduces itstensile strength.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the second embodiment which includes aribbon cassette having a wider thinner ink ribbon having a smallertensile strength engaged on the tape winding device 1. The ribboncassette 25 of FIG. 6 is provided with a reel 25-1 around which a widerthinner ink ribbon 26 is wound. The reel 25-1 has a hollow shank 25-2around which the ink ribbon 26 is wound. The hollow shank 25-2 is longerin correspondence to the wider ink ribbon 26. The hollow reel shank 25-2has an upper shorter engaging hole portion which engages with the ribbonwinding top 5 and a lower enlarged hole portion which communicates withthe upper engaging hole portion. Thus, the ribbon winding top 5 is up onthe rotational shaft 4 in correspondence to the upper shorter engaginghole portion to thereby reduce a quantity of compression of the clutchspring 7 correspondingly. Thus, the drive torque of the rotational shaft4 is reduced correspondingly to be suitable for winding the ink ribbon26 having the larger width and lower tensile strength.

When a tape cassette is set in the apparatus body, tape cassettes havingthe same thickness irrespective of the widths of the ink ribbonscontained in the tape cassettes are sometimes convenient to handle. Withsuch a tape cassette 27, for example, an arrangement may be obtained inwhich the tape cassette is held in a position restricting memberprovided on the back of an open cover 17, and then the cover 17 isclosed against the apparatus body to thereby cause the tape cassette toengage with the ribbon winding top 5 automatically.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the second embodiment which includes atape winding device 1 engaged with a ribbon cassette having a maximumthickness and containing a narrower ink ribbon. The ribbon cassette 27of FIG. 7 has a maximum fixed thickness irrespective of the width of theink ribbon 28. The reel 27-1 around which the ink ribbon 28 is wound hasan upper smaller engaging hole portion of reduced axial length incorrespondence to a narrower width of the ink ribbon and a longerenlarged center hole portion which communicates with the upper engaginghole portion. Thus, the ribbon winding top 5 is engaged in the centerengaging hole portion in the reel 27-1 at an upper position within thecassette depending on the width of the ink ribbon 28 contained in thecassette irrespective so the larger thickness of the ribbon cassette 27.A quantity of compression of the clutch spring 7 is reduced incorrespondence to a quantity of upward movement of the ribbon windingtop 5. Thus, the drive torque of the rotational shaft 4 is smaller, sothat it is suitable for winding the ink ribbon 28 having the narrowerwidth or the reduced tensile strength contained in the tape cassette 27having the larger thickness.

While in the embodiments of FIGS. 4-7 the winding top is illustrated asmoving vertically depending on the width of the ribbon (or the thicknessof the ribbon cassette), an arrangement may be such than thevertical-direction position of the winding top is fixed and anappropriate plate is disposed movably between the winding top and thehelical spring in a manner in which a lower surface of the ribboncassette abuts on the plate.

While in the second embodiment the vertical-direction position of theribbon cassette 16 or 22 is fixed by the position restricting member 18integral with the back of the cover 17 of the apparatus body after theribbon cassette 16 or 22 is set in the apparatus body, the presentinvention is not limited to this particular case. For example, theposition restricting member 18 may be attached to the back of the cover17. Alternatively, the cover 17 may restrict the position of the ribboncassette 16 without providing the position restricting member 18especially. Alternatively, the position restricting member 18 may beprovided on the apparatus device body and not on the cover 17, so thatthe position restricting member 18 lowers the ribbon cassette 16 set inthe apparatus body and fixes the vertical-direction position of thecassette 16.

While in the first and second embodiments the winding drive gear 6 isillustrated as being fitted over the rotational shaft 4, the presentinvention is not limited to this particular case. For example, thewinding drive gear 6 may be rotatably attached within the apparatus bodyexcluding on the rotational shaft 4 so that a drive torque from a drivesystem (not shown) of the apparatus body may be transmitted to thewinding drive gear 6. While the clutch plate 4-1 is illustrated astaking the form of a disk integral with the support of the rotationalshaft 4, it may take another shape.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 8 is an exposed perspective view of a tape winding device as athird embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 eachillustrate the operation of the assembled tape winding device set on theapparatus body where a cassette which contain a ink ribbon is set. Thesome reference numeral is used to denote similar components of the tapewinding devices of FIGS. 8 and 9 and FIGS. 1-7, and their furtherdescription will be omitted.

In the present embodiment, the tape cassette is, for example, a ribboncassette 32 which contains the ink ribbon 31 and a winding reel 32-1; afirst rotational body is, for example, a longer winding top 30; a firstsupport is, for example, an upper end portion 14-2 of the longerrotational shaft 14, a first abutting member is, for example, a drivenwheel 14-1; a first rotational shaft is, for example, the longerrotational shaft 14; a second rotational body is, for example, a shorterwinding top 34; a second support is, for example, an upper end portion20-2 of a shorter rotational shaft 20; a second abutting member is, forexample, a driven wheel 20-1; a second rotational shaft is, for example,the shorter hollow rotational shaft 20; a first frictional member is,for example, a larger ring-like felt 29; a second frictional member is,for example, a smaller ring-like felt 19; a relay member is, forexample, a winding drive gear 39; and a biasing member is, for example,a helical spring 23.

First, the structure of the tape winding device of the third embodimentwill be described. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the tape winding device 10is provided with a support shaft 3 fixed to a chassis 2 of the apparatus(for example, printer) body, the long rotational shaft 14 fittedrotationally over the support shaft 3 and having the integral drivenwheel 14-1 at a lower end thereof,a lower winding top 30 fitted over theupper end portion of the rotational shaft 14, the shorter rotationalshaft 20 fitted over the longer rotational shaft 14 and having a throughhole 20-3 and the integral driven wheel 20-1 smaller than the drivenwheel 14-1, the shorter winding top 34 fitted over the top of theshorter rotational shaft 20, a winding drive gear 39 fitted over theshorter rotational shaft 20 and pressed against the driven wheel 14-1through the larger ring-like felt 29 and pressed against the drivenwheel 20-1 through the smaller ring-like felt 19, and the helical spring23 fitted over the shorter rotational shaft 20 and pressed at a lowerend thereof against the winding drive gear 39 through a slip washer 45to reduce friction and pressed at its upper end against the lower end ofthe shorter winding top 34.

Grease (not shown) as a lubricant is provided between the longer andsmaller winding tops 30 and 34 to reduce possible friction producedbetween those winding tops.

The support shaft 3 has a groove 3-1 provided along the periphery of theupper end portion thereof. The support shaft 3 prevents the longerrotational shaft 14 from slipping off from the support shaft 3 by aC-like washer 24 fitted in the groove 3-1 to thereby support therotational shaft 14 rotatably.

The longer rotational shaft 14 has an upper end 14-2 of a non-circularcross section. It extends through the longer winding top 30, fits at itsupper end axially slidably in an engaging hollow 30-1 provided on anupper end of the winding top 30 (thrust-fit), and is rotatable alongwith the longer winding top 30. A C-like washer 37 is fitted in a groove14-3 provided on the side of the upper shaft end 14-2 to prevent thelonger winding top 30 from slipping off from the longer rotational shaft14. A plurality of vertical engaging fins 30-2 provided on the outersurface of the shank of the longer winding top 30 engage withcorresponding engaging fins 32-1a provided on the inner surface of thecenter hole in the ribbon cassette reel 32-1.

The upper end portion 20-2 of the shorter rotational shaft 20 has anon-circular cross-section, fits axially slidably into a hollow 34-1provided in a lower end of the shorter winding top 34 (thrust-fit), andis rotatable along with the shorter winding top 34. The shorter windingtop 34 has a plurality of vertical engaging fins 34-2 equally spacedaround the outer periphery thereof which are engaged with acorresponding plurality of engaging fins (not shown) provided on innersurface of the hollow reel of the ribbon cassette.

Since the longer winding top 30 is prevented from slipping upwards fromthe longer shaft 14 by the C-like washer 37, the shorter rotationalshaft 20, the shorter winding top 34 which fits over the shaft 20, thehelical spring 23 and the winding drive gear 39 are rotatably positionedbetween the lower end of the longer winding top 30 and the lower end ofthe longer rotational shaft 14.

Since the helical spring 23 is provided in a compressed state betweenthe shorter winding top 34 and the winding drive gear 39, the helicalspring 23 has a biasing force by which the winding drive gear 39 pressesthe driven wheels 14-1 and 20-1 through the larger and smaller ring-likefelts 29 and 19 to thereby transmit the rotational drive from a drivesystem (not shown) of the apparatus body to the driven wheels 14-1 and20-1.

FIG. 9 shows a thicker ribbon cassette 32 which winds a wider ink ribbon31 set in a cassette receiving section 33 of the apparatus body and thenset in the tape winding device 10.

In FIG. 9, Since the reel 32-1 has a larger length corresponding to thewider width of an ink ribbon 31 to be wound, both the longer and smallerwinding tops 30 and 34 of the tape winding device 10 fit into the centerhole in the ribbon cassette reel 32-1 and their axial engaging fins 30-2and 34-2 both engage with the corresponding engaging fins 32-1a providedon the inner surface of the hollow reel 32-1.

Thus, the ribbon cassette reel 32-1 receives a larger drive torque whichis the sum of the drive torques from both the longer and shorter windingtops 30 and 34. The ink ribbon 31 wound by the thicker ribbon cassettereel 32-1 has a larger tensile strength corresponding to its largerwidth. The rotational drive due to the larger drive torque is exactlysuitable for winding the ink ribbon 31 having the larger tensilestrength.

FIG. 10 shows a thinner ribbon cassette 36 which winds a narrower inkribbon 35 positioned on the cassette setting section 33, which is thenset on the tape winding device 10. In this case, since the length of theribbon cassette reel 36-1 is smaller in correspondence to the thinnerwidth of the ink ribbon 35 to be wound, the engaging fins 30-2 of thelonger winding top 30 positioned at a higher portion in the tape windingdevice 10 appear above the reel 36-1 and only the engaging fins 34-2 ofthe shorter winding top 34 engage with the corresponding engaging finsprovided on the inner surface of the hollow reel 36-1.

Thus, the reel 36-1 receives a drive torque from only the shorterwinding top 34. The drive torque is therefore lower. The ink ribbon 35wound by the thinner ribbon cassette reel 36-l has the narrower width,so that it has a corresponding smaller tensile strength. The rotationaldrive due to the lower drive torque is just suitable for winding thenarrower ink ribbon 35 having the smaller tensile strength.

As described above, the drive torque of the reel of the tape windingdevice 10 changes depending on the width of the ink ribbon to be wound.As the width of the ink ribbon is narrower, the drive torque is lowerwhereas as the width of the ink ribbon is wider, the drive torque ishigher. Thus, the reel is always driven by a drive torque appropriatefor the tensile strength of the ink ribbon.

The tensile strength of the long ink ribbon is not always proportionalto its width. For example, if as many prints as possible are desired,using a roll of ink ribbon, the thickness of the base film of the inkribbon is permissibly minimized and a layer of an ink coated on the basefilm is also minimized permissibly. By doing so, the tape volumedecreases. Thus, even the same ribbon cassette can contain a longer inkribbon. As the ink ribbon is longer, a quantity of print increases.However, if the ink ribbon is thinner, its tensile strength is lower.

FIG. 11 shows a modification of the third embodiment and moreparticularly a tape winding device 10 and a ribbon cassette whichcontains a wider thinner ink ribbon (that is, a wider ribbon having asmaller tensile strength) engaged on the tape winding device 10. Theribbon cassette 38 of FIG. 11 is provided with a reel 38-1 around whicha wider thicker ink ribbon is wound. In the reel 38-1, a shank aroundwhich the ink ribbon is wound is longer in correspondence to the widerink ribbon, and the reel has a lower engaging fins 38-1b which engagewith the corresponding engaging fins 34-2 of the winding top 34.

Thus, the length of the reel 38-1 is larger in correspondence to a widerink ribbon. Even when the longer and shorter winding tops 30 and 34 ofthe tape winding device 10 are both fitted into the reel 38-1, theengaging fins 30-1 of the longer winding top 30 do not engage with thereel 32-1, and only the engaging fins 34-2 of the shorter winding top 34engage with the corresponding engaging fins 38-1b on the inner surfaceof the hollow reel 32-1.

Thus, also, in this case, the ribbon cassette reel 38-1 receives a drivetorque from only the shorter winding top 34. The drive torque iscorrespondingly smaller and just suitable for winding the wider inkribbon having a smaller tensile strength.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the third embodiment in which the ribboncassette reel 41-1 is engaged with the longer winding top 30 alone. Witha wider thinner ink ribbon having an intermediate tensile strength) likethe ribbon 40 of FIG. 12, when the ribbon cassette reel 41-1 of FIG. 12around which such ink ribbon is wound engages with both the engagingfins 30-2 and 34-2 of the longer and shorter winding tops 30 and 34, asshown in FIG. 9, the reel 41-1 would receive drive torques from both thetops 30 and 34. The sum of both the drive torques is too strong to pullthe ink ribbon 40.

On the contrary, when only the ribbon cassette reel 41-1 of FIG. 12engages with the engaging fins 34-2 of the shorter winding top 34, asshown in FIG. 10, the reel 41-1 receives a drive torque from the shorterwinding top 34. However, the drive torque is too small to pull such inkribbon.

In order to cope with such problem, according to the arrangement of thismodification, only the longer winding top 30 which provides a highertorque than the shorter winding top 34 is engaged with the reel 41-1 totransmit the torque from only the longer winding top 30 to the reel tothereby pull the ink ribbon 40 of the ribbon cassette 41.

More specifically, FIG. 12 shows the ribbon cassette 41 which contains awider thinner ink ribbon 40 and the tape winding device 10 engaged withthe ribbon cassette 41. The ribbon cassette reel 41-1 of FIG. 12 is forwinding a wider thinner ink ribbon 40. The reel shank 41-2 around whichthe wider ink ribbon 40 is wound is longer in correspondence to thewider ink ribbon 40 and has upper engaging fins 41-4 provided on theupper inner surface of the hollow shank 41-2 and engaged with thecorresponding engaging fins of the longer winding top 30. Thus, evenwhen the ribbon cassette 41 is set in the tape winding device 10 and thelonger and shorter winding tops 30 and 34 of the tape winding device 10are fitted into the reel 41-1, the engaging fins 34-2 of the shorterwinding top 34 do not engage with the corresponding engaging fins 6 onthe inner surface of the hollow reel 41-1, but only the engaging fins30-2 of the longer winding top 30 engage with the engaging fins 41-4 ofthe reel 41-1. Thus, the ribbon cassette reel 41-1 receives a drivetorque from only the longer winding top 30.

Accordingly, with a wider thinner ink ribbon, that is, when the reelrequires a drive torque from only the longer winding top 30, applicationof an insufficient or excessive torque to the torque is avoided, andstabilized ribbon winding is achieved.

As described above, with a thicker ribbon cassette, or a wider inkribbon, three kinds of torques are realized by the correspondingarrangements of the reels 32-1, 38-1 of FIGS. 9, 11 and a reel engagedwith a longer winding top 15 only.

While in the modification of the third embodiment of FIG. 12 the ribboncassette which contains a wider thinner ink ribbon is taken as anexample of the cassette ribbon cassette 41 which engages with the longerwinding top 30 alone, the present invention is not limited to theparticular case. The present invention is applicable to ribbon cassetteswhich require a drive torque of the longer winding top 30 or, forexample, a ribbon cassette 44 which contains a narrower thicker inkribbon 43 as shown in FIG. 13.

In the arrangement of the third embodiment, the torque from the drivesystem (not shown) of the apparatus body is transmitted from the windingdrive gear 39 through the larger and smaller ring-like felts 29 and 19to the driven wheels 14-1 and 20-1, and hence to the longer and smallerwinding tops 30 and 34. In this case, the smaller ring-like felt 19gives a smaller frictional transmission force than the larger ring-likefelt 29. At this time, for example, when a long narrower ink ribbonhaving a smaller tensile strength of a ribbon cassette is wound, thecassette reel is engaged with the shorter winding top 34 which receivesa drive torque via the smaller ring-like felt 19. It is to be noted thatthe present invention is not limited to this particular case. Forexample, even with a ribbon cassette for a wider ink ribbon having alarger tensile strength, such ink ribbon cassette can be wound aroundits ribbon cassette by replacing the smaller ring-like felt 19 with aink ribbon having a larger frictional transmission force and by engagingthe cassette reel with the shorter winding top. On the contrary, forexample, even with a ribbon cassette for a smaller ink ribbon having asmaller tensile strength, such ink ribbon can be wound around its ribboncassette by replacing the larger ring-like felt 29 with a ink ribbongiving a smaller frictional transmission force and by engaging thecassette reel with the longer winding top 30.

While in the third embodiment the slip washer 45 is disposed between thedrive gear 39 and the helical spring 23 to reduce friction which will beproduced between the drive gear 39 and the helical spring 23, anythingmay be used instead of the slip washer 45 as long as it reduces thefriction. For example, grease may be coated on the respective contactingsurfaces of the drive gear 39 and the helical spring 23.

While in the third embodiment grease is coated on the respectivecontacting surfaces of the longer and shorter winding tops 30 and 34 asa lubricant to reduce friction which will be produced between the longerand shorter winding tops 30 and 34, anything may be used instead of thegrease so long as it reduces the friction. For example, a slip washermay be used.

While in the third embodiment the compressed helical spring 23 isdisposed between the shorter winding top 34 and the winding drive gear39 so that the biasing force of the helical spring presses the windingdrive gear 39 against the driven wheels 14-1 and 20-1 through the largerand smaller ring-like felts 29 and 19, the present invention is notlimited to this particular case. To this end, for example, an elasticrubber member may be used instead of the helical spring 23.

I claim:
 1. A tape winding device provided on an apparatus body andengaged with a long tape-like material winding reel of a tape cassetteset in the apparatus body for transmitting a drive force from a drivesource of the apparatus body to the reel, comprising:a rotating bodyhaving a portion which fits into the reel so as to drive the reel in awinding direction; a rotational shaft non-rotatably thrust-fitted tosaid rotating body and having an abutting portion which abuts slidablyon a frictional member; a relay member pressed against the abuttingportion and receiving the drive force from the apparatus body; and abiasing member disposed between said relay member and said rotating bodyfor separating said relay member and said rotating body from each otherwith a biasing force and for biasing said relay member so that saidrelay member is pressed against the abutting portion of said rotationalshaft through said frictional member so that said rotational shaft isdriven by said relay member, wherein the reel has a thickness whichdepends on the width of the long tape-like material wound thereon,wherein said rotating body which is engaged with the reel is structuredto be lowered, depending on the width of the tape-like material, againstthe biasing force of said biasing member, and wherein the apparatus bodycomprises a positioning device which fixes the vertical-directionposition of the tape cassette on the winding device and against thebiasing force of said biasing member.
 2. The tape winding deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said positioning device comprises a coverfor the apparatus body.
 3. The tape winding device according to claim 2,further comprising position restricting device provided on a back ofsaid cover for pressing on the tape cassette.
 4. The tape winding deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the apparatus comprises a locking devicewhich locks said cover at a closed position.
 5. The tape winding deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the apparatus body comprises a lockingdevice which locks said cover at a closed position.
 6. The tape windingdevice according to claim 1, wherein said abutting portion of saidrotational shaft comprises a flange formed on said rotational shaft.